Propeller-reversing device



Aug.- 19, 1930. D. J. SCOTT PROPELLER REVERSING DEVICE Filed Sept. 30, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ffi'vemor 3.0]? 300275:

Aug. 19, 1930. D. J. SCOTT 1 7 PROPELLER REVERSING DEVICE Filed Sept. 30, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F; fi

Inventor Attorney Patented Aug. 19, 1936 UNITED STATES DREXEL J'. SCOTT, OF YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO PROPELLER-REVERSING DEVICE Application filed September 30, 1927. Serial No. 223,097.

The present invention relates to an improved device for reversing propellers used on aeroplane, aircraft of other kinds, boats, and the like.

a The principal pur ose of the invention is to provide a means or reversing the action of the pro eller of the aeroplane to give a braking e ect. f

The device will enable the operator or pilot to change the pulling power of the propeller to apushing power, only limited by the speed of the engine.

When the blades are in the retard posi tion, the propeller will have a tendency to push the air away from it and consequently slow up the forward motion of the machine. By speeding u or slowing down the engine, this effect can easily governed. The direction of the rotation of the blades can be changed to forward or retard positions, at

the will of the pilot through means of appropriatle operating devices,'such as lever or foot peda The primary object is to enable a plane to come to earth at normal speed and immediately upon contact with the earth, the operator may turn the blades of the propeller over one-quarter turn to retard position. He can then'speed up the motor and come. to a quick 39 stop, without waiting for the plane to come to a standstill governed by the momentum. With this device, it is therefore possible to use the same power to stop as it is to start the plane in motion.

Another use is to provide the operator with an efi'ective brake while flying 1n midair to avoid collision. It is possible through the use of this device to come to a substantially complete stop in the air, and then drop out of the way of an oncoming plane for instance. v f

It could offer many advantages for quick maneuvering of combat planes in time of war. The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will become more readily apparent from the following description and drawings.

i In the drawings v Figure 1 is a top plan view of a propeller reversing device constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevational and sectional view showin the internal mecha nism more plainly 3.115 the relative arrangement and association of parts.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section through the central portion of the device.

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of the stationary hub section.

Fig. 5 is an end'view of one of the propeller actuators.

Fig. 6 is a side View of said actuator.

Referring now to the drawings by numerals, it will be seen that the reference character 65 7 designates a crank shaft whoseouter end is tapered. Mounted on this crank shaft is the stationary section 8 of a novel hub structure. This section is fastened to the crank shaft through the medium of a key 9 and a retaining nut 10. It includes a reduced portion 11 constituting a bearin sleeve, a substantially cylindrical interme iate portion 12, and a disk-like abutment 13.

Carried by the portion 12 are longitudinal circumferentially spaced ribs 14, also functioning as-keys. As shown in Fig. 4, this hub section is provided on opposite sides, with a somewhat ovate hole 15, and a cooperating arcuate cam slot 16.

The relatively movable section 17 of the hub structure is somewhat slidably mounted on the rigid section 8 .for rotating with the rigid section. It includes a central cup-like portion 18 having internal key-ways receiving the aforesaid keys 14, and having a grooved neck portion 19 slidable, on the aforesaid bearing 11, as shown in Fig. 3.

In addit1on,'it is provided with a pair of right angularly extending duplicate sockets 20 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, each socket being provided with an appropriate lining 21. Mounted in each socket, for oscillation is a journal or actuator 22, of hollow construction. This actuator is provided on its inner end with a fulcrum pin 23 extending into the aforesaid hole 15, and a cam pin 24 extending into the cam slot 16. The outer end thereof, which is screw threaded, and counterbored, as at 25, extends outwardly beyond the socket to permit the stub of the propeller blades 26 to be fastened thereto.

This screw threaded portion 25 is preferably longitudinally split and is clamped on the stub of the propeller blade through the medium of a retaining nut 27 held in place by lock-screws 28. The propeller blade is of customary construction.

Attention is also invited to a removable closing plate 29 for the outer end of the socket appropriate packing, and a thrust bearing 30 seated in a counter-recess at the outer end of the socket. Incidentally it will be noticed that the journal 22 is shouldered for cooperation with this thrust bearing, the

bearing being constructed to take up end thrust, as well as radial thrust.

In practice, an operating lever, or a foot pedal (not shown) is of course provided, and will be in turn provided with means for cooperation with the grooved head 19 of the slidable hub section 17. It might be stated, that this hub section has a very slight movement, and can he slid in an outward direction until it abuts the disk 13.

With the arrangement described, it is of course obvious that when the section 17 is slid outwardly on the rigid section 8, the cam action produced by the cam slots 16, and cooperating pins 24, serve to rotate the journals or actuators 22. In so doing, the propeller blade is rotated through an approximate quarter. turn, thus reversing its action in order to accomplish the results specified at the I outset of the description.

The construction and operation of the invention, will be quite clear to persons skilled in the art to which it relates. Therefore, a

-1nore lengthy description is believed unnecesgether with circumferential longitudinally extending keys, an outer slidable hub section mounted on the first-named section and including keyways receiving said keys, together with outstanding sockets, propellers disposed in axial alinement with said sockets, and including journals mounted for oscilla tion in the sockets, said journals having ful crum connections at their ends with the stationary section of the hub, said stationary sections being provided with arcuate cam slots, and cam pins carried by said journals and movable in said slots, and retaining means imaaao 

